Worcester Sharks do some summer shuffling

For the Sharks, historically one of the most stable organizations in pro hockey, change is a relative term.

They announced some more of it yesterday, although for the most part, it was a case of familiar faces being assigned to new jobs.

Joe Will was named general manager of the Worcester Sharks, assuming duties held by Wayne Thomas since the team moved here in 2006-07. Thomas remains with the San Jose organization, continuing as assistant GM to Doug Wilson. Thomas, a former NHL goaltender, will continue to work with the organization’s goalies.

While not directly involved in the day-to-day operations in Worcester, Will has worked in San Jose’s hockey operations department for many years in various capacities, most recently as an assistant general manager. Will was part of the decision-making process in assembling and evaluating the Sharks’ AHL teams in Worcester.

San Jose named Jon Gustafson vice president in charge of Worcester’s business operations and the Sharks’ ice centers in California. Gustafson is a former minor league goaltender with experience in the AHL, ECHL and Central Hockey League, as well as the defunct West Coast Hockey League and International Hockey League.

The Sharks’ hockey staff in Worcester will remain the same with Roy Sommer, the senior coach in the AHL, continuing as coach here with David Cunniff as his assistant.

Stalock, the winningest goaltender in Worcester hockey history, may not be back here, however. Thomas Greiss signed with Phoenix as a free agent, so Stalock is the leading candidate to become Antti Niemi’s backup in San Jose.

Pelech is a natural defenseman who has also skated on the wing as a physical presence and is entering his third year with Worcester. Comrie, who gave last year’s Sharks a midseason boost when called up from Reading of the ECHL, was one of the team’s most effective players during the season’s final weeks.

Davison, 33, was drafted by the Sharks and turned pro under Sommer in 2000-01, when San Jose was affiliated with the Kentucky Thoroughblades. Davison, who played for Sommer in Cleveland, has skated for Lowell and Albany in the AHL.

He has played in 219 NHL games, most of them with San Jose, and spent the past two seasons in Europe.